October is breast cancer awareness month, and we at Patriot Homecare stand with those, and loved ones of those, who struggle with breast cancer in their lives.
- 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.
- In 2022, an estimated 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women from the U.S., and about 2,710 new cases for men.
- The risk for breast cancer nearly doubles if you have a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past.
Remind your relatives, especially women, to get regular mammograms and do breast self exams often:
- Look at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips, and look to make sure breasts are their usual size, shape, color, and evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling.
- Raise your arms and look for the same changes.
- While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples.
- Feel your breasts while lying down, use your right hand to feel your left breast and vice versa. Use a firm, smooth touch and your first few fingers to examine the entire breast, moving in a quarter-sized circular motion. Go from the top to bottom, side to side, from collar bone to abdomen, and from your armpit to cleavage.
- Feel your breasts in the same way while standing or sitting, most women do this in the shower.
- If you find any abnormalities, talk to your doctor, don't wait!
Learn more about a Breast-Self-Exam here: https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/breast-self-exam-bse
